Heydrich assassination

[eldenwaff]

Just saw a recently made movie "Anthropoid", which details the saga of the assassination. [May be on netflix I don't know, I saw it via Kodi]
Brought back memories of a book I read long ago, "Seven men at daybreak" with the same subject.

The 2 did not align very well at all, the book as is usually the case war far, far better. But I am not concerned with entertainment, accuracy is what I strive for.
The movie predictably got tangled up with love affairs ,,, Certainly the men had social interactions while they waited and plotted, but the gooey love stuff was a central theme in the movie.

The opening sequence has them instantly being betrayed by a Czech countryman, don't recall that at all in the book.
What really got me is there were a number of small sabotage missions they went on while waiting to perfect their scheme, these were not touched upon at all in the movie. It gave the impression they dropped in, screwed around in bed a bit with local hotties, killed Heydrich all within a week or so, I know they were there much longer than that.

Church siege sequence at the end at least was good and seemed in line with the book.
Of course, perhaps the book was not all that accurate, which begs the question - Any accurate sources [and please no wikipedia] for the sequence of events of this terrible, historic mission ?

[Just noticed there is a thread about this movie so posting there as well]

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

the movie is a fictional story "based on true facts" (= crap imo).

Did you saw the 1975 movie taken from the Alan Burgess book ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Daybreak

I don't remember well the book of Burgess, but i'm pretty sure that Max Williams did a great work on his biography of Reinhard Heydrich (he did for sure made an excellent work on his book about Himmler).

https://www.amazon.com/Reinhard-Heyd.../dp/0953757757

https://www.amazon.com/Reinhard-Heyd.../dp/0953757765

See You

Vince

[eldenwaff]

No did not see it but I'll look it up and see if I can find it, if it is based on the book it is bound to be better.

I really liked the book, probably been over 20 years going to have to read it again.

[Mike Swan]

We were fortunate to visit Prague last year and sought out the famous church. The historic event is certainly not forgotten.

Mike

[Totenhead]

I quite enjoyed the movie, its not a documentary

I would really like the visit the church soon

Thanks for showing

[eldenwaff]

Watched the Daybreak movie at the suggestion of Vince, thanks.

Found it much, much better and more to my tastes. Gooey romance was kept to a minimum, and there was a background at least of their training and the German angle.

I think it added a fair share of fiction as well, I don't think they killed 2 German troopers within minutes of landing then hitched a ride into town from other Germans looking for parachutists hours later. Also the early sequence with them standing around starring daggers through Heydrich as he got out of his vehicle was not very believable as it was not in line with their goal to remain unnoticed until they were ready to do their deed.

Much will never be known I suppose, as most of those directly involved did not survive to tell their tales, so that opens up alot of creative room for those seeking to retell the saga. So it is left to us still interested in the mission many decades later to sift through the info available and basically decide for ourselves what is true.

I would like to know certain tactical things like how many casualties the Germans suffered in the church, surely that must be known.
I do recall the book alluding to the first group of Germans to enter the church did so rather carelessly and were mowed down, hard to believe that they would just keep running in like dumb boys to be slaughtered. I was waiting for Clint Eastwood to step from behind a pillar and single handedly mow down a whole battalion.
Both films I am pretty sure highly exaggerated the church siege, but as of now I have nothing to accurately gauge that suspicion on.

Thanks for the contemporary pics Mike, always a thrill to stand at historic locations where great events transpired.

[Mike Swan]

One of the early "After the Battle" magazines also covers this topic quite extensively.

Mike

[Johnny R]

It is interesting that now all the flower and candles are there. I was there in 2014 and there was nothing there aside from a wilted bouquet.

[Johnny R]

According to an elderly lady that lived in the neighborhood this is where he was actually killed. They changed the street and the monument is farther away from where the attack was.

[eldenwaff]

Here is a pic I found looking out the slit, along with a translation



After being overwhelmed defenders crust occurred and the remaining four parachutists underground, which the Gestapo tried to get at any price live. This window Germans initially dropping tear gas grenades into the crypt. The defenders are throwing out. Then called firefighters went out the window grille and began to blow crypt suffocating smoke. Defenders shoved tube ladder as well as hoses which firemen inside pumped water. When the Germans wanted to dazzle lamp, troopers blasted him. After several hours, firefighters managed to capture the ladder and pulled out. Thousands of gallons of water are vast tomb flooded up to almost one meter. But by paratroopers out of ammunition

http://www.fronta.cz/foto/bojiste-okenko#fotobox

[Arthur Kullmer]

I visited Prague & the crypt a couple a couple of years ago found it to be very moving & eerie down there thinking of the paratroopers fight for survival!
Some pics from inside & bullet holes in walls.

They have monuments of the heroes in the crypt.

incidentally they trained for their jumps near to where I live in the UK
Cholmondeley Castle & Tatton Park

[Arthur Kullmer]

Brave men,

[Totenhead]

Interesting Arthur, thanks for the pictures, I plan on paying a visit next summer

The damage that can be seen in the wall, is that where they tried to dig through the concrete to the drains ?

I know Cholmondeley Castle & Tatton Park, they are not far from where I live also

Tatton Park was the advanced training centre for the Parachute Regiment, they were trained to jump from static barrage balloons. Of course, RAF Ringway wasn't far away, No.1 Parachute Training School, which is now Manchester International Airport

[Arthur Kullmer]

Interesting Arthur, thanks for the pictures, I plan on paying a visit next summer

The damage that can be seen in the wall, is that where they tried to dig through the concrete to the drains ?

I know Cholmondeley Castle & Tatton Park, they are not far from where I live also

Tatton Park was the advanced training centre for the Parachute Regiment, they were trained to jump from static barrage balloons. Of course, RAF Ringway wasn't far away, No.1 Parachute Training School, which is now Manchester International Airport

Prague is a great city to visit & yes your right about Tatton,

I was born in Knutsford my Nanna lived across from Tatton Park, she said she saw lots of paratroopers practicing jumps during the war, & I believe there is also a plaque somewhere within Cholmondeley grounds stating that they trained there.

With regard to the hole in the wall as you know they were trying to dig to the sewers & apparently were 1.5 metres away from digging in the right area, wall opposite.

The whole story is sad for many reasons, I am glad they managed to fulfill their mission to bump Heydrich off, must have been a massive shock to the Reich.
I've read books about Anthropoid but not seen the new film yet.

[Totenhead]

Prague is a great city to visit & yes your right about Tatton,

I was born in Knutsford my Nanna lived across from Tatton Park, she said she saw lots of paratroopers practicing jumps during the war, & I believe there is also a plaque somewhere within Cholmondeley grounds stating that they trained there.

With regard to the hole in the wall as you know they were trying to dig to the sewers & apparently were 1.5 metres away from digging in the right area, wall opposite.

The whole story is sad for many reasons, I am glad they managed to fulfill their mission to bump Heydrich off, must have been a massive shock to the Reich.
I've read books about Anthropoid but not seen the new film yet.

Have just returned